Fastener for shoe-strings



(N o Model.)

H. L. POTTSJ FASTENER FOR SHOE STRINGS,'BAGS, 8nd.

WlTNESSES 6. o/afz f Patented Mar. 18, 1,890;

I INVENTO@O{% ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PA-TENT- OFFICE.

l-IARLAN LEONARD POTTS, OF POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

FASTENER FOR SHOE-STRINGS, BAGS, 80C.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,808, dated March 18, 1890.

Application filed April 29, 1889, Serial No. 308,953. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARLAN LEONARD Form, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pottstown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fasteners for Shoe- Strings, Bags, &c., which improvement is fully set fortlrin the followingspecification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of a fastener for a shoe-string, bag, &c., formed of jaws, which are connected at one end and provided with a tongue and groove, as herein described and claimed, whereby the string may be conven iently appliedand removed and when in position firmly held.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a fastener for a shoestring embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3. represents a transverse section thereof. Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of a modification.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the fastener, the same being constructed of the jaws B and C, which are connected at one end as integral, leaving the other end open and flaring for the insertion of the string between them. The upper jaw B is made of greater thickness than the lower jaw O, the latter, owing to its being fastened to the shoe, not requiring heavy material therein. The inner face of one of the jaws has a tongue D, and that of the other jaw has a groove E, said tongue projecting toward said groove, so as to provide a bighting action on the string when the latter is in position.

It will be seen that the string is presented to the jaws so as to enter between the same, and is drawn inwardly, riding against the tongue and wall of the groove. The jaw 13 held at one end is somewhat elastic, so that it yields and allows the string to enter to considerable extent, and then exerts its press ure, so that the string is tightly clamped and thus firmly held, the hold being increased by the tongue and groove bending or deflecting said string as said tongue and groove lengthen the contact-surfaces of the jaws upon the string.

The jaw O is provided with spurs F, of flexible metal, for fastening the device to a shoe, bag, &c.; or, in lieu thereof, an eyelet G may be formed with or secured to said jaw for evident purposes; but, if desired, the jaw may be secured by stitching, for which purpose openings are made in the jaw 0, forms of which are shown in Fig. 5.

I am aware that it is not new to form a shoestring fastener of a single piece of metal bent from between the jaw and the body portions;

but I am not aware that the construction herein shown and described is oldviz., afaste'ner formed of solid metal having two jaws integral with each other, one of said jaws being provided with a V-shaped tongue and the other jaw having a groove coinciding with said tongue, the said tongue and groove extending from the intersection of said jaws to .the ends thereof, so that the string will be,

firmly nipped between the tongue and groove of the jaws and held in place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A fastener for a shoe, consisting of a single piece of solid metal formed in two jaws, one of which is provided with a tongue and the other with a coinciding groove, said tongue and groove extendingfrom the intersection of the jaws to the ends thereof, and the under jaw having secured thereto prongs of flexible metal, whereby said fastener may be attached to a shoe, said parts being combined substantiall y as described.

HARLAN LEONARD POTTS.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEnERsHEIM, 1.. JENNINGS. 

